In this episode of #FeelingsMatter, hosts Michelle Stinson Ross, Tina Schweiger, and Heather Hampton explore the emotion of worry - that feeling of being troubled or having a mind busy with anxiety or doubt. The conversation examines worry as primarily a mental rather than physical experience, its relationship to control and choice, and how it differs from anxiety. The hosts share contrasting perspectives on worry, with some experiencing it frequently while others find it largely absent from their emotional landscape.

Episode Highlights:

• Heather notes how the visual representation of worry shows the character looking off into the distance rather than at the viewer, illustrating how worry takes us out of the present moment and focuses on an unknown future
• Heather shares her approach to worry using the phrase "worry doesn't have a place in a plan," explaining how she gathers information before deciding if something is worth worrying about, and how having a plan eliminates the need for worry
• Tina theorizes that worry can become addictive because it creates an illusion of power or control over situations we actually cannot control, suggesting people can become "worry warts" as part of their personality
• The hosts contrast worry (primarily mental rumination) with anxiety (more physical sensations), and explore how worry represents "over-engaging in choice" while exasperation comes from lack of agency
• Heather offers a surprising perspective that her intimate relationship with depression may actually make her "immune" to worry, since she already has a pessimistic worldview and doesn't need to add more negative thinking on top of that baseline

Podcast theme music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay

This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN.Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by 
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally. https://www.feel-wise.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform


Podcast theme music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay

This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by 
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally. https://www.feel-wise.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform